This is a question that comes to mind as the temperatures heat up in St. Louis. After the cold winter months, and the wet springtime, warmer weather is a welcome relief for residents of the St. Louis and surrounding areas. Summer is an exciting time. Yet, the Foundation Doctor of St. Louis knows it can spell problems for your home’s foundation. Dry weather means the soil is drying out as well. If it dries out too much, it can mean disaster for your foundation. How so?

Shrinking Soil

Hot weather dehydrates the surrounding soil around your foundation. Most of the time, the soil is moist. When it begins to dry out, it shrinks. When it shrinks, it moves. When it moves, then your foundation could be left exposed and unsupported. This lack of support could cause your foundation walls or floor to begin to form cracks. You may not notice shrinking soil right away in the St. Louis area. To avoid the problem of shrinking soil, a good rule of thumb is to provide moisture around the soil of your foundation, especially if there have been many days without rain. (more…)